The new blog has launched!

Sooooooo the new and exciting project/blog I have been working on is up and running! I will leave this one up for a bit but will probably shut it down after awhile. The new blog is a little more "mature"(it was the only word I could think of) and suits where I want to take my blogging a lot more. Go check out Nothing Too Fancy See you on the new site!

News coming.......

I know it has been forever since I posted on here, but I have been busy planning, researching and thinking up a new project.....all will be revealed soon!!!!!

Too long between posts!

I know, I know it has been forever since my last post, but I promise I really was busy!  Between the end of the semester for uni (yep 1 semester down, or it will be come Thursday afternoon and I have done my last exam), working two jobs and moving house - life well, got away!

But we are all settled into our new place now, with only 2 rooms left to unpack, and now live 2 blocks from the beach and 2 blocks from the cafe's!

I do have one new crafty project to show you. As we are back living in unit I lost my backyard and therefore my garden, which lets just say was only a step from a disaster, I wanted to try again so alas I did! I made some self watering pots out of soft drink bottles!!!

I planted radishes, rocket and chilli plants (even though they are out of season) as they were the seeds I had on hand so fingers crossed they work!

Ok, back to the study for me, enough procrastination!

Cupcakes with a twist

The picture pretty much sums it up, just 2 ingredients - a vanilla cake mix and a can of creaming soda!!! I literally added nothing else! Now I will admit these are not an original idea, I have seen the idea floating around Pinterest (now isn't that a great way to pass time) for a few months and finally decided to give it a go. Result? Soft, moist cupcakes (or mini bundt cakes in this case) with a subtle hint of creaming soda!

Go on give them a try - they are super easy just combine the cake mix with the can of room temperature soft drink (I used just less than a can actually) and bake as a cake or cupcakes or little bundt cakes for about 20mins on 180°C. Easy as!!!!!!!!!

Another baby shower gift

I am for sure all our friends and family are having babies in the same 12 month period. This time is it my cousin in Brisbane, so instead of the my usual sewing gift I decided this time, as we are coming into winter, to get the needles out and knit away. I used a very neutral tan colour, as we don't what she is having! I nearly didn't part with the vest I fell in love with it, and it's soooo easy to knit up.

Here all the links for the patterns for you to create your own masterpieces. Beanie pattern, booties pattern, and vest pattern all are free. I used Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply rustic wool, so soft and warm.

I've been cut!

Not from a job list or the like, just my wrist. I had a cyst removed a week or so ago and it has really been pretty straight forward - but I have to say I can't wait for the stitches to come out on Tuesday so everything can really get back to normal.

I was naughty I was meant to leave all the dressings on till I went back but they had to come off I was SOOOO itchy!!!!! Look at how good the wound is - sorry had to share :)

Busy, Busy , Busy!!!!!!!

Do you that moment when you suddenly get a moment when you think 'My God, how did life get so busy?' Well, that is exactly the moment I am having - between full time uni, the newish crazy we will call you when we need you job, hockey and some exciting news I am about to tell you about - I am, well, busy!!!!!

Uni is going well and so is the job, oh and we won our first game of the winter season of hockey 10-2 so that is off to a flying start!!!!! So what exciting news has led to life been even busier - www.quitewrite.com.au My partners new business venture and I am the one behind getting the website off the ground (plus making posters and flyers to handout!).

If you need someone to write an article for you, or website content, or proofread what you hope is an award winning, money earning manuscript she is the girl! So check out her website and 'like' her page on Facebook you won't be disappointed!!!!

And so it begins......

Uni that is :)

I am now two weeks in and feel like I have never left!!!! Trying to get my head around it all again has taken some time, as well as learning a new job. But after a bit of a bad week (we had a death in the family) I think I am finally across it all, ready to finish my first assignment due next Tuesday (I am yet to start actually lol).

The funniest part of uni so far has been the fact I had to have a twitter account for one of my subjects - interesting development, can't say I am across the twitter world, but I am getting there!!!!!.

The new library

Hoping to get some new recipes up on here soon!

Satay Chicken

Thought I would post a recipe, since I do love to cook. This is probably one of the easiest and most flavoursome dishes I cook. There is times I won't cook it for ages and then I do, I think, why don't I make it more often!!!! It ticks all the right boxes - low in fat & calories (yep not kidding), colourful, full of veggies and of course yummy!!!!! So here it is, my Satay Chicken for 2.

Satay Chicken*

Serves 2-3

Vegetable oil
1 chicken breast fillet (about 250g) diced
1/2 zucchini cut into strips
1 carrot sliced
1/2 red capsicum cut into chunks
1/2 onion diced
1 clove of garlic crushed
1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp chilli powder (add more if you like heat)
1 can coconut flavoured evaporated milk (or light coconut milk)

1. In a hot wok (or frypan) add a dash of oil and chicken. Brown. Once cooked through remove from wok.
2. Reoil wok and saute onion and garlic until soften. Add vegetables and cook for 3mins.
3. Return chicken to wok and all other ingredients, adjusting amount of coconut milk to the consistency desired (I usually use about 1/2 -3/4 of a can). Turn heat down. Cook until all combined and heated through (About 2mins). Serve with rice.

NOTE: DO NOT LET COCONUT FLAVOURED EVAPORATED MILK BOIL IT WILL SEPARATE AND LOOK CURDLED! Also don't use reduced fat/salt/sugar peanut butter. Did that once and it tasted like glue!!!

To cook for 4 people use two chicken breast fillets and double the vegetables and add a bit more peanut butter and most of the can of coconut milk. You shouldn't need to change the other ingredients. The flavour goes a long way :) 

*Based on recipe from Symply too Good to be True.

A Completed Quilt!!!

I DID IT!!!!! It only took about 3 years but a quilt I started way back then, I finally finished, well yesterday all in time to gift it to my partner for Valentine's Day as you saw yesterday :)

I thought I would share with you a couple of pic's of just the quilt.I have to say I am pretty proud of it. I have no walking foot or the like and thought hell with the hand quilting and just sewed it on the machine. I like how it looks :)

 Now I can't believe I am saying this but I am thinking of doing another one. Crazy I am aware since this one was 3 years in the pipeline!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!

Ok, so essentially this a day made to make Hallmark an even wealthier company, but since I am resourceful and was not spending a cent on the love season I was happy to indulge in a little Valentine's Day hype.

Since it fell on a Tuesday I really wasn't keen on getting up at, like, 5am in order to make my partner breakfast in bed......so I did that on Sunday morning. Made some pancakes for breakfast, then headed to The Entrance to bop in the water. Bliss! The water was soooooooo clear!

So today was a lonnnnnngggg day in order to have my partner's gift ready for when she got home from work. But alas I prevailed and got it done with about 10mins to spare :)

Why was it a long day? I did all the hand stitching of the binding today!!!!!!! But it was worth it. One completed quilt, a little heart gardland and a handmade card :) SHE LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you all had a fantastic Valentine's Day!!!!!

A Baby Shower

My partners best friend is expecting baby number 1 in March and last weekend we went to the baby shower. 50 or so ladies all going gaga for the soon to be here little boy. I of course was sent to the sewing room in the week before and asked to make some gifts and that I did - and I even remembered to get pictures (last minute I will admit!)

First up I made a gorgeous (by my own admission) blanket/wrap. It is made from 100% cotton flannellete and a satin binding where I added eyelet lace and then weaved contrasting ribbon through. While a tad fiddly (is that even how you spell it??) it turned out really well.

Then it was a little jumper as it will be coming into winter here. I appliqued a rocket onto the front and it looks "rocking" bahahaha.......lame I know.....I also added a dummy clip in matching fabric.

Lastly I made a total scrap fabric inspired "monster"doll. I nearly didn't gift this as I was totally in love with it!!!!!!!! (The picture is terrible, this is what happens when you remember you wanted to take pictures of them as you are starting to wrap them about 10mins before heading out the door!!!!!!!!)

He is sooooooo cute!!!!!! Everyone at the baby shower was completely shocked that I made every part of our gift - but of course I would have it no other way :)

mmmmmmm a spot of baking!

Our new years resolution for both of us was to drop a few kilos for a healthier life. It is actually going really well, however the other day (more like the other week lol) my cousin, his partner, my cousins two boys and his niece were calling in on their way home from a trip up north and I was met with a dilemma - no food in the house for entertaining. Of course I could have walked to the shops, but I decided lets see what I can come up with.

The result - this gorgeous cranberry oat and honey bread I made it true to the recipe with the exception I didn't have enough honey so I topped it up with golden syrup. It was truely delightful and the verdict from the kids aged 13,13 and 11 - "Love it!!!!!!!" Thumbs up all round! So much so my poor partner missed out altogether!

I have to say the one thing I am missing about weight loss is baking - I love mixing something up and having the house smell delightful (I don't miss the washing up though lol) The mother-in-laws 50th is coming up so I am thinking I could get my chance :)

A little Craft Time

Summer here has been exceptionally cool and I have been feeling the need to crochet and knit. Now while I never quite got that granny ripple blanket finished from Christmas, it is a project I do want to complete, but love the joy of something new!!!! So hence coat hanger cover thingy's lol - basically old nanna crafty item number 1!!!!

I came across this tutorial for the coat hanger covers, which is written in Dutch. I don't read a word of Dutch, but one look at the pictures I had it sorted. I have written a basic tutorial below in English to help you get on the way. But make sure you check out the original site as the pics alone are gorgeous and easy to follow!!!!!

BASIC TUTORIAL: These are really really simple and you only need to know any crochet stitch, whether it be single, double, half double or treble. Chain about 15 stitches (or however many you need to fit around the coat hanger) then just working back and forth in rows till it is about the same lenth as the coat hanger. Sew the ends together and slip the hanging part of the coat hanger through the middle. Using any joining method you feel fit, join the bottom and your done!!!! So simple.


I think I will probably do a few more over time just to spruce up the wardrobe :)

Christmas Wrap Up!!!!

Ok, now I am aware it is now well into 2012, but I finally got around to downloading the pictures from Christmas and wanted to share with you this photography technique I came across one day while scrolling blogs. It is called "Bokeh" basically you make shapes out of lights by placing a "cover" over the lens with a small shape (or just a hole) cut out of it and what better time to try it than at Christmas with all its fairy light goodness :)

I love this one of our Christmas snow globe :-)

We also got some lovely flowers from a friend for Christmas and I just had to get a picture of them with the vibrant orange colours!!!!

I do love the festive season but I have to say this year I was glad for it to be over! Moving on to a bigger and better 2012!!!!